Drinking in public has been banned across Amber Valley town centre streets and parks after a spike in anti-social behaviour.

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been introduced in 19 areas across the borough in a bid to stop public boozing, carrying of an open container of alcohol, dogs defecating in cemeteries and fly-tipping.

The change means that people who break the new rules will be committing a criminal offence. They could be dealt with by a police officer, PCSO or "delegated council officers", according to a council report on the matter.

People caught drinking in public could be fined up to £500.

The borough council had carried out a public consultation before deciding to go ahead with the bans and it says 97% of those who responded said the PSPOs were a good idea.

There have been a number of reports about rising levels of anti-social behaviour in the borough's towns in recent weeks.

11 - Kilburn sports and recreation areas off Chapel Street and Church Street

12 - Aldercar Recreation Ground

13 - Queens Street Recreation Ground, Langley Mill

14 - Riddings Park

15 - Ripley Town Centre

16 - Ripley Greenway

17 - Somercotes Park

18 - St Andrews Church, Swanwick

19 - Crays Hill Recreation Ground, Swanwick

A borough council spokesman said: "The council’s cabinet agreed today to impose conditions on a number of defined areas to deal with particular nuisance issues.

"The three types of anti-social behaviour that the council wishes to control are anti-social behaviour in cemeteries via control of dogs by making it an offence if a person who is in charge of a dog that defecates, fails to remove the faeces, fly-tipping by installing barriers restricting access to areas identified as illegal tipping hot-spots, and alcohol consumption in town centres and parks by prohibiting, at all times, consumption of alcohol or being in possession of an open container of alcohol."